Mykyta Panasenko, 27, said yesterday that he was stunned at seeing his name in news reports from the U.S. to Europe implying he was somehow connected to the Boston Marathon bombings. Authorities insist he had no connection and his arrest preceded the Boston bombings.

Information on his charges was not made public until he appeared in court Wednesday, nine days after the first summons was issued.

Panasenko claims that several media outlets reported his arrest and charges in a way that insinuated he had a sinister motive, or was connected to the bombings in Boston.

"Because of misinformation, I now have to explain to everyone that I have no links to terrorism, which is pretty ridiculous," Panasenko said.

In the comment section of a Jersey Journal story about Panasenko, a commenter claiming to be Panasenko said he "got a taste of the negative side of what it is like to be a celebrity ... constantly facing intrusion of privacy and fabricated stories."

The Newport Parkway resident acknowledged taking explosive materials on a train from Hoboken on April 7 to set off fireworks in the woods in Suffern, N.Y. He said a roommate saw some of the firework components in their Jersey City high-rise apartment and contacted police.

"I decided, in a pretty foolish idea, to experiment with gunpowder and make little firework type things," Panasenko said. "I decided to take them to the woods somewhere where no one lives, and watch them explode, for fun -- for lack of a better word. Of course this was a bad decision, I do admit that."

Police and FBI agents searched his apartment, according to Panasenko, who said he told them everything he had done, including taking the train to Suffern. He was issued a summons a week after the search, on April 15, the day of the Boston bombings.

Prosecutors declined yesterday to say what was found in Panasenko's apartment. Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Gene Rubino said Panasenko faces serious charges, including creating a risk of widespread injury or damage, but added Panasenko would not have been released without bail if anyone in law enforcement thought he posed a threat to the public.

Jersey City police said they found improvised explosive devices in Panasenko's apartment.